THE SERIES
Welcome to the world of Montgomery Lake, Massachusetts—where high school friendships run deep, first crushes spark excitement, parties buzz with energy, families face real ups and downs, and every day tests who you truly are and what you stand for.
Gripped dives into this world through the Montgomery Lake High crew—Cathy Kagelli, Jason Davids, Chris Dunkin, and their friends—as they chase teen highs amid temptations. A local football legend’s struggles with crime and addiction send ripples through Montgomery Lake, but the heart of the series is the emotional rollercoaster of high school life: intense friendships, first love, hidden battles with substance abuse and mental health, and the hope that shines through when characters choose courage and faith over fear.
Teens call it the most realistic Y.A. they’ve read—finally stories that mirror their world with heart, suspense, twists, and that addictive quality that keeps them rooting for characters who feel like real friends.
SUMMER SPECIALS!
NEWS!
REVIEWS
“A riveting read from start to finish.”
– Midwest Book Review
“A compelling and gripping novel, with an important message.”
– Readers’ Choice Book Awards, 4x Gold Winner
“The story unfolds like a premium teen drama TV show featuring parallel compelling storylines, spellbinding cliffhangers, and everything about high school, college, and teenage life.”
– Readers’ Favorite, 5 Stars
“I’ve always looked for ways to affect young adults with a positive message in my work and so the opportunity to take the world Stacy created, a world showing how good kids can easily fall into life threatening drug addiction and eventually put the pieces of their lives back together, was an opportunity and challenge I was excited to bring to the small screen.”
– Mark Blutman, Emmy-Award winning producer
“I recommend this book to teens and young adults because there are so many of us who may be lost and struggling, and we’re looking for hope, but in the wrong places.”
– TreVeyon Henderson, running back for the New England Patriots
“Invigorating, engaging and a must read. The characters in the Gripped Series diligently tackle the essence of forces that can limit greatness within.”
– LaTonya Pinkard from the Netflix Original Series ‘Last Chance U’
“A must-read for young adults, parents, and educators alike, offering both a cautionary tale and a message of hope. Stacy Padula continues to deliver a series that is as impactful as it is engrossing.”
— Angelina Tzeng, Student Body President of Braintree High School
“What truly sets Gripped apart is its ability to educate without preaching. Unlike many other reads, Padula does not soften the realities of addiction, peer pressure, or mental health challenges, and instead presents them as they often appear in real life—messy, painful, and deeply impactful.“
— Ava Khouri, Senior Class President of Hanover High School
“The characters grow richer with each passing novel, as the depth of relationships between them approaches reality.”
– Mackenzie Wells, University of Georgia
SHOP
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